Compact



Feb. 15, 1949. w w z I 2,461,711

COMPACT Filed March 24, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v Feb. 15, 1949. A. WEWETZER 2,461,711

COMPACT Filed March 24, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 15, 1949 Albert Wewetzer; 'Elgin, Ill.-,assi'g'n'or to Illinois Watch Case 00., Elgin, 111 2. corporation of Illinois iiiiiili'e'atibil March 24, 194s,-seia1iwo. 58L542 (Claims. (o1.'220--s"1 i Thisinventionrelates in general to' a cosmetic container for powder, rougaand the like, and is p more particularly described as a compact made partly or entirely of plastic material. 7

An important object oi the invention is to provice"a"cesrnetic-'comamer in which the parts are made and combined in sucha manner that the entire -striuiture may be made entirely of plastic at i sc 'A'iurther objct'of the invention is to provide an improved cover structure and hinging arrangenint thereforby which it may be attached in a contain r. v

fliithe'r objector the invention is 'to provide a 'iiew an improved cover fastening and opening means in'coiiriection with a cover'mou'nted to fit in "a cosmetic "container.

Stillafurthe'r object of the invention is to providea powder compartment at the bottom of a cosmetic container which may be opened and. clo's'e d 'b'y hieansof asli'dable lid. I

Other objects'of the invention will ppea in thespe'cification and will be apparent 'fr'omthe accompanying drawings, ,in which;

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a compact in accordance with this invention showing the'compartmen'tlicl a'n'dthe cover both partially open;

*Fig.'2isa;plan view of the structure shown in Fig. '1 with the hinge andcover removed;

.'jFig.'3is asectiona1 view as taken on line 3 3 of' FigJ2but with the cover in place andpartially open;

"Fig. 4 is a "sectional view taken'on line 44 of Fig.3; I v a 5isa perspectiveview from the underside I urine-frame and-platform structure;

Figffi is a'perspective view of the under side of the cover; Y

Fig; 'l'is a perspective view of a transverse hinge plug 'for' th cover;

jg. 8 is a detail in section, taken on line 88 s-' v t 9Jis' a; perspective new era compacthavin'g a'fi'ii'odifiedcovr and hinge construction, the compertinent lid and the cover being partially open;

Fig-10 is asectional view of the compact shown itiFigQ 'with the cover in closed'position;

Fig;11 is a sectional'viewof the structure shown with the cover in open position;

Fig. '12is asection'al detail of the hinge mountingtai en'on line [25-12 of Fig. 11;

"13 is 'a perspective "viewof the hinge-plug a'sfsliownih'Figs. 1'0 andll;

Fig.1? is a firsiJeotiV'e'VieW orone comer ofthe' v 2 base to show the hinge mounting structure; and

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the rear hingin'g edge of the cover shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. Cosmetic and other similar pocket containers plug and cover hinge have'heretofore been produced in a large variety of forms and constructions, some made of metal alone, and some combining metal and various plastic walls or pieces. The compact of the present invention is dejsigned and intended to provide a container in which all of the material parts may optionally be constructed of plastic mate"- rials.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings,ythe base B is formed of any desired or suitable plastic material having suilicient thickness to form a substantially flat container and having any desired outerdecorativecontour or appearance. In the top face of the container is asubstantially rectangular opening defining a recess l'l having a shoulder'l8 around the upper edge to receive the edge of a cover C therein flush with the top or upper face of the base. At the top of the front wall l5of the base is a notch 20 extending outwardly irom the central portion flush with the shoulder l8 and formed upon the front of the'coveris a'lip M to extend outwardlyin the notch. This lip 'may project slightly beyond the outwardly rounded portion of the base so that the finger or ringer nail of a person may be inserted' below the lip to pry or force the cover upwardly in opening it. A

In the bottom of the-recess I1 is a compartment 22 for powder or other material, defined in part'by a framehaving a marginal rim 23 extending around the-opening at the front and sides thereof to supporta thin cross platform 24 connecting thetop of the frame over its rear and sides leaving an'ope riing adjacent the front rim.

At thefrontand in the opposite sides of the recess l'l are slots 25 located just above the upper edgeofthe frame and the platform supported thereby, so that; a flexible lid 26, desirably of plastic inay be initially sprung (as indicated in broken outline in Fig, 4) to seat opposite edges thereof inthe side slots 25 for sliding engagemer t over-the top of the frame for opening and closing the compartment therewithin. The top of the lid may be provided with a plurality of grooyes -21 constituting, in efiect, a finger piece whereby to facilitate manual engagement with the lid for operating purposes.

With this compartment construction, the

frame may be'sec'ured in place within the recess in anyof various waysjas by "adhesion, by a tight friction fit, by fusion of the material, or otherwise. I aim to provide a tightly sealed compartment for receiving powder or othermaterial therein, the lid fitting closely but slidably in the slots and overlapping the platform and frame to provide a sufficiently leak-proof connection to prevent escape of powder. In such a construction the lid may nevertheless be moved easily for opening or closing the compartment as desired.

At the rear of the cover C, is a hinge pintle in the form of an enlarged rounded bar 28 connected to the cover by a web 29 which stops short of the bar ends to form at such points openended slots 35. The two end portions of the bar are adapted to be seated in apair of aligned slotted channels 3| having interior contours extending for the major part Of a circle, these two channels constituting spaced hinge bearings wherein the bar ends are free to be rotated. The channel bearings are formed upon the upper edge of a plug 32 which is .fitted into the recess l1 within a space provided for the purpose between the frame and the rear-wall. i of the'base, the ends of the plug being extended into vertical notches 33 that are formed in-the base side walls at their juncture points with the rear wall 16 of the base. To assemble the cover hinge parts, the pintle is slid endwise within the channels of the plug prior to fitting of the latter Within the base; when assembled, and the plug is secured in its final position, the base side walls then extend over the ends of the bars whereby to prevent any endwise movement between the cover and its hinge plug. When so positioned, the marginal edge of the cover C will seat upon the shoulder IS in flush relation with the upper side of the base. Opening movement of the cover is arrested by engagement of its web with the rear channel wall E l that is extended upwardly from the plug and preferably continuously for its length. Extending from the inside of the cover C is a flange 35 spaced from the marginal edges of the cover to fit within the recess and to provide a space for receiving a mirror 36 which is adhesively, or otherwise, secured within the flange.

Projecting from the central portion of the outer I flange of the cover is a rib Ml adapted to engage in a locking groove 4| of corresponding length, the resiliency of the parts permitting the rib to flexibly engage in the groove, whereby to seat the cover tightly against the shoulder IS in its closed position.

With thls construction, the compact, with the exception of the mirror, which may be of glass, metal, plastic, or any suitable material, may be made. entirely of plastic material, the parts being secured together by heat and pressure, by an adhesive, or by any method as now commonly employed, and, when thus constructed and combined, they will produce a light, strong, effective and efficient compact or container.

In the modification of the hinge structure, as shown in Figs. 9 to 15, a cover C has a hinge projection d5 which curves downwardly and arcuately at the rear with an outwardly slightly projecting rib -55 at its extremity.

The rear wall fill of the compact'base B on which the cover is mounted, is formed with a hinging groove having a portion '45 concavely rounded in cross section with upper and lower edges as and 5!, respectively, at an angle thereto. A lip 50 is formed at the upper edge of the groove in a slightly overhanging'position. At the ends I beyond the ends 54 of a hinge plug 55 having a laterally extended rounded bead 56 to fit the curved under side of the hinge projection 45 of the cover. When the hinge plug is in place, its end lugs occupy positions within the notches 52 between end shoulders of the adjacent base sides and bosses 51 one formed medially of each notch. The hinge projection 45 then is confined in the space between the plug and the rear wall 4! of the compact base B, being free to move arcuately therewithin through more than to permit the cover to swing from a closed position where it is rested upon the base shoulders I8 to a fully open position where the hinge projection edge adjacent the rib 46 engages the plug below its bead (see Fig. 11). The bosses 5? which desirably are curved in conformity with th curved under side of the cover rear projection 45, act in cooperation with the arcuate groove 49 to confine the cover to movements about a fixed axis. When in closed position, the cover arcuate rear edge is extended down sufiiciently far below the top edge 50 of the concave groove 49 so as to be prevented thereby from becoming disconnected from the base.

The compartment, sliding lid, and other features of the cover construction. may be substantially as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, and where corresponding thereto, are designated by reference numerals the same as used in connection with those figures.

In constructing a container of this kind, it is' important to have the hinge and other joints fit strongly and tightly to prevent powder from escaping therethrough, or cloggingthe joint. By interlocking and adhesively securing either one of these hinge plugs in place, a satisfactory swinging connection for the cover is provided,

and one whichis easy to assemble and completeinto the concave groove of the base rear wall, an.

overhanging lip at the top of the groove, an out. wardly extending rib at the bottom of the curved portion of the cover, and means fixed in the, base recess engaging the under side of the cover curved portion to establish a hinged connection therewith whereby the-cover is free toswing from a position flush with the base top through 90 or more, the cover rib and groove lip being substantially interengaged when the cover is in closed positioned.

2. In a compact, a body portion of a container and recessed to form side and front and rear walls and provided along longitudinal concave groove provided with upper and lower edges projecting at an angle to:

the concave face of the-groove, a cover 'formed along its rear edge with a downwardly curved portion fitting into the concave groove of the rear wall of the base and provided with a projecting lip movable between said projecting edges of the rear wall, and a'hinge plug secured within the base and having a rounded bead conforming flat base constituting the;

along the inner face and top of said rear Wall, the side walls being provided at the ends of said groove With recesses, a cover formed along its rear edge with a downwardly curved portion fitting into the concave groove of the rear wall of the base, and a hinge plug provided with a rounded bead conforming to the configuration of the curved portion of the cover and confining said curved portion in said groove, said hinge plug being provided at its ends with lugs secured in the recesses of the side walls of the base.

4. In a compact, a base constituting the body portion of a container and recesses to form side, front and rear walls, the rear wall being provided with a concave groove extending lengthwise along its inner face and top and the side walls being provided at the ends of the groove with recesses, a cover formed along its rear edge with a downwardly curved portion fitting into the concave groove of the rear wall of the base, bosses projecting inwardly from the side walls of the base at the recesses thereof and having curved edges fitting the curved portion of the cover, and a hinge plug provided at its ends with lugs secured in the recesses of the side walls between the bosses and shoulders formed by said recesses, said hinge plug being provided with a rounded bead. conforming to the curvature of the curved portion of the cover and confining said curved portion in the groove of the rear wall.

ALBERT WEWETZER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

